Poland says Hungarian envoy not welcome at event at start of EU presidency

Poland decided not to invite Hungary's ambassador to an event on Friday launching Warsaw's EU presidency after Budapest gave asylum to a former deputy minister who is under investigation over alleged misuse of public funds, a senior official said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also not invited to the ceremony in Warsaw's Grand Theatre, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said.

Warsaw reacted angrily when Hungary granted political asylum last month to Marcin Romanowski, a Polish former deputy justice minister who was detained last July as part of the investigation into misuse of public funds.

Romanowski was quickly released, after the president of a European rights assembly said he had immunity as a member of the body. The former minister denies the accusations against him.

"When we invited guests to our gala almost a month ago, we invited the entire diplomatic corps," Sobkowiak-Czarnecka said in televised comments on Friday.

"But after the situation with minister Romanowski, Minister (of Foreign Affairs) Sikorski decided that the Hungarian ambassador is not a welcome guest in the theatre today."

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, were due to give speeches at the ceremony inaugurating Poland's presidency of the European Union, which each member state holds for six months in rotation.

Hungary held the presidency during the second half of 2024.

Tusk has been critical of Orban on issues including his stance on the war in Ukraine and policies that Poland considers to be pro-Russian. Orban has told Hungarian media that Tusk's government considers Hungarians to be enemies.